Already enrolled?

Fit Your Knits

Knit Lab

Knitwear designer Stefanie Japel teaches you how to knit a sweater with adjustments to the bust, waist and hips to perfectly fit any body type.

You've found the perfect sweater pattern and even bought the perfect yarn. Before you spend days, weeks, or even months knitting the sweater just to find that it's too tight in the bust, rides up in front, pulls across the hips or hangs like a sack, stop and get step-by-step help from Stefanie. Learn how to customize a sweater pattern to fit any body size and shape. See how to create bust darts, decrease stitches to show off a waistline, add stitches to fit anyone’s hips, and change the length and taper of sleeves for a truly personalized knitted garment.

Lesson plan

Lesson 1. Introduction

Meet Stefanie Japel as she reviews what this lesson will cover and learn about the Craftsy platform.

38:01

Lesson 2. Fit vs. Style

Bring together your fit needs and the pattern designer's style to create a great-fitting, great-looking garment.

33:43

Lesson 3. Matilda Measurements

See the places where measurements should be taken and how to determine where these are on your own body.

1:01:29

Lesson 4. Assessing the Pattern

Learn to analyze knitting patterns to see if they'll fit you before you even start knitting and how to make any necessary adjustments.

10:31

Lesson 5. Gauge and Swatching

Learn how to compare a swatch to the gauge in the pattern and how to achieve the perfect gauge in your knitting.

26:32

Lesson 6. Real Women Have Curves

Stefanie moves away from the mannequin to show you how to take your own measurements with a friend's help or by yourself.

33:26

Lesson 7. Modifying the Sleeve

Discover how to change the length evenly throughout the arm and how to change the taper of a sleeve to create a custom fit.

33:13

Lesson 8. Modifying Bad Penny

Learn how simple it is to add length to a sweater and adjust the number of stitches for a proper fit at bust, waist and hem.

52:56

Lesson 9. Modifying Mesilla

Make sure that the bust, Modifying Mesilla waist, and hip of the sweater match up with your own body.

26:46

Lesson 10. Bonus: Bust Darts

Stefanie provides you with an overview of how to measure yourself and add the perfect bust dart for your shape.

34:05

Lesson 11. Bonus: Armholes

Stefanie gives you lots of tips and tricks to make sure that your armhole is as well-fitting as possible.

"What I learned from Stefanie was INVALUABLE for my overall knitting! ... Stefanie goes through all the math to make any necessary adjustments to two of her sweater patterns, giving you the confidence to know how to make the increase/decrease calculations for any pattern you may want to customize. Really learned a lot. Thanks, Stefanie!" - liz0132

5000+ students have enrolled in this class

Recently Enrolled

Lesson plan

8:43

Lesson 1. Introduction

Meet Stefanie Japel as she reviews what this lesson will cover and learn about the Craftsy platform.

38:01

Lesson 2. Fit vs. Style

Bring together your fit needs and the pattern designer's style to create a great-fitting, great-looking garment.

33:43

Lesson 3. Matilda Measurements

See the places where measurements should be taken and how to determine where these are on your own body.

1:01:29

Lesson 4. Assessing the Pattern

Learn to analyze knitting patterns to see if they'll fit you before you even start knitting and how to make any necessary adjustments.

10:31

Lesson 5. Gauge and Swatching

Learn how to compare a swatch to the gauge in the pattern and how to achieve the perfect gauge in your knitting.

26:32

Lesson 6. Real Women Have Curves

Stefanie moves away from the mannequin to show you how to take your own measurements with a friend's help or by yourself.

33:26

Lesson 7. Modifying the Sleeve

Discover how to change the length evenly throughout the arm and how to change the taper of a sleeve to create a custom fit.

33:13

Lesson 8. Modifying Bad Penny

Learn how simple it is to add length to a sweater and adjust the number of stitches for a proper fit at bust, waist and hem.

52:56

Lesson 9. Modifying Mesilla

Make sure that the bust, Modifying Mesilla waist, and hip of the sweater match up with your own body.

26:46

Lesson 10. Bonus: Bust Darts

Stefanie provides you with an overview of how to measure yourself and add the perfect bust dart for your shape.

34:05

Lesson 11. Bonus: Armholes

Stefanie gives you lots of tips and tricks to make sure that your armhole is as well-fitting as possible.

The instructor

Stefanie Japel, Instructor of Fit Your Knits

Stefanie started knitting at 8 years old and began designing soon thereafter. She learned to knit in the round at age 20, and her books — Glam Knits, Fitted Knits, and Mom and Me Knits — all feature fabulous circular knitting patterns. You'll also find Stefanie's wonderful work in Interweave Knits, Knitscene, Vogue Knitting and more. Stefanie teaches a variety of knitting classes on Craftsy, and her lifetime of experience, clear teaching style and effervescent enthusiasm make her one incredibly fun instructor.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(35 reviews)

Awesome class you keep coming back to

by noale on March 7, 2015

I have taken Stephanie's other classes, too, but this is an absolute top. This class is good for both beginners and more advanced kniitters. It teaches you about gauge, measuring and adjusting the pattern, which I found extremely valuable. I keep coming back to this class as a reference also when making projects in other knitting classes.

I have taken Stephanie's other classes, too, but this is an absolute top. This class is good for both beginners and more advanced kniitters. It teaches you about gauge, measuring and adjusting the pattern, which I found extremely valuable. I keep coming back to this class as a reference also when making projects in other knitting classes.

Lots of information

by christy_f3575193 on March 3, 2015

This is a great class for learning how to make adjustments to patterns to fit your body. It took me a few times to watch the class and understand everything. Great to look back on when I want to make adjustments.

This is a great class for learning how to make adjustments to patterns to fit your body. It took me a few times to watch the class and understand everything. Great to look back on when I want to make adjustments.

Clear Instructions + Fun Attitude = Great Class!

by kmouse on October 13, 2014

Stephanie is a great teacher and one of my favorite CRAFTSY instructors! She takes time to give thorough instruction, but is also a relaxed and encouraging teacher. This will be my first sweater, so I had many anxious thoughts. Now, I just am enjoying the process and know that I can do this. Enjoying the process of creating is why I enjoy CRAFTSY classes.

Stephanie is a great teacher and one of my favorite CRAFTSY instructors! She takes time to give thorough instruction, but is also a relaxed and encouraging teacher. This will be my first sweater, so I had many anxious thoughts. Now, I just am enjoying the process and know that I can do this. Enjoying the process of creating is why I enjoy CRAFTSY classes.

Great class!

by Sewphistic8ed on July 24, 2014

Lots of great information if you want to adjust commercial patterns. I usually design my own, but I found the section on bust darts and armholes particularly valuable. Stefanie has a very easy going delivery style - all around a great class!

Lots of great information if you want to adjust commercial patterns. I usually design my own, but I found the section on bust darts and armholes particularly valuable. Stefanie has a very easy going delivery style - all around a great class!

Knit Lab Fit Your Knit

by snemesh1144786 on June 24, 2014

Awesome! I absolutely LOVE the way Stefanie Japel teaches and conveys her information. This class is perfect for beginners, as well as, advanced knitters. Information is presented in several different ways for reinforcement and helps you understand how to obtain the best fitting sweater. I would purchase any additional classes that Stefanie Japel has at Craftsy. It would be great if she would consider producing a step by step class of more sweaters. :)

Awesome! I absolutely LOVE the way Stefanie Japel teaches and conveys her information. This class is perfect for beginners, as well as, advanced knitters. Information is presented in several different ways for reinforcement and helps you understand how to obtain the best fitting sweater. I would purchase any additional classes that Stefanie Japel has at Craftsy. It would be great if she would consider producing a step by step class of more sweaters. :)